Teen Found at Elk River

Another tragic end to a missing person comes into the news today. The Watauga Democrat in Boone, North Carolina is reporting that a teen boy that went missing on Sunday while swimming in Elk River Falls has been found dead.

Reports from the Democrat are saying the body of 16 year old Nicholas Chad Hicks from Johnson City, Tennessee was found on Tuesday at the Falls.

Initial reports via the Watauga Democrat are that Nicholas Hicks was swimming on Sunday afternoon when he got pulled under by the strong currents associated with the Elk River Falls. Rescue Crews and other agencies where notified that someone had gone missing and started to attempt a rescue.

The Watauga Democrat says that the rescue ran from Sunday through Tuesday. There were several delays due to strong storms that moved through the area during those days. Several times the recovery teams where told to stand down because of thunderstorms that were moving through the region.

Lt. Danny Phillips from Avery County Sheriff's Department is quoted in the Watauga Democrat as saying "The river is very dangerous in that particular area due to the currents created by the waterfall." The Democrat also says "Historically, there have been several injuries and deaths at Elk River Falls due to both the current and swimmers jumping off the waterfall and landing in the shallow areas of the pool."

There were several agencies involved in the search and rescue of 16 year old Nicholas Chad Hicks. The departments that responded and searched according to the Watauga Democrat were: "the Avery County Rescue Squad and Dive Team, Linville Central Rescue Squad, Elk Park Volunteer Fire Department, Fall Creek VFD, Frank VFD, Banner Elk VFD, Crossnore VFD, Newland VFD, Linville VFD, Green Valley VFD, Avery County Sheriff's Office, Carter County Rescue Squad, Lenoir Fire and Rescue, Hudson Fire and Rescue, North Catawba Fire and Rescue, Parkway Fire and Rescue, Gamewell Fire and Rescue Swift Water Team, Burke County Sheriff's Office Dive Team, Washington County Dive Team, McDowell County Fire and Rescue Dive Team, Search and Rescue Dog Team, P. G. Fire Department, Watauga Rescue Squad, Blowing Rock Rescue Squad, N. C. Emergency Management, Asheville Fire and Rescue Dive Team, Avery Communications, Spruce Pine Fire and Resuce, Burke County Air Truck, Bristol Dive Team and the U. S. Forest Service."

RESOURCES:

Teen Still Missing At Elk River By:Melanie Davis ~
http://www.wataugademocrat.com/2007/0625web/teenstillmissing.php

NEWS UPDATE: Body Of Teen Found At Elk River Falls ~http://www.wataugademocrat.com/index.php